Hello, Goodbye: September 2014 Recap

september 2014

(c) Elegance and Enchantment

Hello, October

Is it just me or did the last month go by a blink? No seriously, it’s October already? October is always intimidating and exciting because it means final exams are coming up (which is why tweeting/blogging shall be sporadic for me for the until next week) and so is our semestral break. I imagine I’ll be doing lots and lots of reading once I’m on break- a good thing because I have so many books to read, especially these soon-to-be released books:

Save-the-date releases

october 2014 ya releases

My excitement for BoO knows no bounds. Okay, there’s a feeling of dread there too (because last books are always kinda dreadful) but mostly excitement. And then of course, there’s another bookish event this month and I definitely won’t miss it:

Upcoming events

Book Signing Tour – Claudia Gray and Madeleine Roux

claudia gray madeleine roux manila philippines national book store signing

So yes, October is looking really great so far! Blog-wise, I really hope I can do more reviews this month because I’ve been doing less and less and I really need to catch up. I’m also planning to declutter/reorganize/overhaul my blog as soon as I have the time- maybe even revamp? We’ll see.

Goodbye, September

September was a fabulous birthday month.  It was about ALL THE BOOKS, ALL THE FOOD, ALL THE WORK, ALL THE FUN. Okay so it was crazy busy but it had been the great kind of busy where you’re just involved in everything you know?

Let me start with the unfortunates first: I wasn’t picked to be one of the winners for The Big Blog Exchange. I actually thought I’d be super upset about that but it’s pretty much okay. At least, I tried. And besides, Tessa has a wonderful blog and she totally deserved to win. Incredibly happy for her and also very happy that I was able to connect with her and a few of the PH BBE girls during the last days of the contest. We even organised a meet up but I sadly wasn’t able to go. Curse you, schoolwork!

Now, the awesome: I finally was able to watch If I Stay and really liked it. I went to MIBF and bought a whole lot of books. I did a lot of shopping (for clothes- would you believe it?) because my mom and sister were in a shopping mood. I had all the feels watching my favourite summer animes, Ao Haru Ride and Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun. I read a good number of lovely books (as seen below). I got to meet Jen E. Smith and Lissa Price (which I’ve yet to blog about- watch out for a late recap). I celebrated my nineteenth birthday by staying home and then having dinner at a lovely French restaurant.

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Nineteenth birthday dinner!

I had two more celebrations after that, one at a huge buffet with my best friends and another at a hotel with my close relatives. I was also with block mates from my previous university. And just last week, we had a fun event at my current college. Yep, September was a blast! Anyway, onto the bookish and blog-related recap of last month:

Books read

books read october 2014

  • The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
  • Infinite Repeat by Paula Stokes
  • Clockwork Angel, The Manga by Cassandra Clare
  • Clockwork Prince, The Manga by Cassandra Clare
  • Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang
  • Ignite by Lily Paradis
  • Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
  • Clockwork Princess, The Manga by Cassandra Clare
  • A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
  • Complete Nothing by Kieran Scott
  • Adorkable by Sarra Manning
  • Whatever Life Throws At You by Julie Cross

Total books read for September 2014: 12 books
Reading Challenge progress update: 111/150 books

Blog Posts

Book Hauls: #24 // MIBF Haul // #26 (Not A Birthday Haul)
Reviews: Falling Into Place // A Little Something Different // The Grisha Series // If I Stay {Film}
Novel Portraits: Behind The Lens with Joséphine
Discussion/List: Bibliophilia: A Great Love of Books
Personal Life: Making The Most of Nineteen + A Birthday Giveaway
Miscellaneous: The Search Is Over… The Answer Is Here // The Next Big YA Book Event // BBE Finalist

On replay

I’ve been listening to The Script’s newly released album, No Sound With Silence, over and over since last week. I’ve been a big fan of the band since their first album and I’ve seen them during both times they came to Manila. I love their music and adore their new album! So far, the ones I love most are Superheroes, The Energy Never Dies, and Never Seen Anything Quite Like You! Aside from that, I quite adored the If I Stay soundtrack and I put it on replay for a good part of the first half month. I already loved Until We Get There even before I knew of the soundtrack, but my new favourites are most of Willamette Stone’s songs!

Quote of the month

“We have nothing to declare but our dorkiness.”
– Adorkable, Sarra Manning

How was September for you? What quotes, songs, and books did you enjoy? What are you looking forward to this October? Tell me about it!

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11 Responses

  1. Oh, dear! I’d love to tell you how much I love The Script! They’re one of my favorite bands and I love their new songs! Especially Flares and Man on a Wire! Haha! I seriously can’t wait to watch them again live.

    Have a great October by the way! Here’s to hoping another for The Script World Tour,eh? *winks*

  2. I read A Little Something Different too last month! Hmm I’m still debating whether I’m more on that “yay it was great” side or the “so-so” side. I liked it but I felt like everything was so redundant because the characters won’t make a move!! I’m super excited for The Body Electric! I loved Across the Universe so whatever Beth Revis writes, I’ll read it.

    1. Well, I can say I definitely liked A Little Something Different! It was super cute. :) I really hope I can get my hands on The Body Electric or Across The Universe so I can finally read Beth Revis! :D

  3. I know exactly what you mean by “great kind of busy” It really feels good to be doing things you absolutely enjoy.

    Looks like you had a great birthday month. I’m sorry to hear you didn’t win, but I’m sure greater things are in store for you. Here’s to another awesome month!

  4. SO excited for TBE & BL,LB! I really need to catch up on Riordan’s books, as well.

    It looks like you had a nice September (and happy belated birthday)! Hope you have fun at the upcoming book signing.

  5. First of all I am happy you had a multi-event birthday! I love having several smaller celebrations as opposed to one big party. I am sorry The Big Blog Exchange win didn’t happen, but can you do it again next year? Can you believe that my father’s family is French Canadian and I have never been to a French restaurant? Lol. Your birthday dinner looks like it was fabulous. I won a signed The Body Electric with swag, but because I also won a signed set of Across the Universe, and Beth is my sister’s favorite author (she is the one who got me to read AtU), I am going to give it to her unread (I might keep the swag though, lol) and buy an ebook. I would have to wait anyway because I am going to do a buddy read with my feature co-host. Why did you read The Old Man and the Sea? Was it for school? What did you think of it? Have you read any other Hemmingway?

  6. Ooh yay, I can’t wait to read Snow Like Ashes and Blue Lily, Lily Blue! Also Blood of Olympus, although I haven’t even read The Mark of Athena yet, which I MUST DO before I continue on in the series, of course. So many good releases coming up in the next month or two, though, it’s exciting!

    Also, it sounds like you had a wonderful birthday, which I’m pleased to hear about. So glad you enjoyed yourself! (Also, do I spy WALLS of BOOKS in the restaurant? *LOVE!*)

    Great recap, and I hope you have a most wonderful October as well!

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